Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is expected to play for the first time this year… more

James Crichlow

Dvorak started the promotion Monday and so far said he is buying 20 tickets for fans who bought tickets to the Tennessee game — a cost of about $1,000 out of pocket.

"I just want to generate some buzz and get the community to understand this, how desperate it is," he said. "We have thousands of tickets to sell in eight or nine days."

Fans who reference Jaxson DeVille while buying tickets for the home opener against the Tennessee Titans will receive free tickets to Thursday night’s game, courtesy of Dvorak. They’ll receive the same number of free tickets that they bought for the Tennessee game.

The Jags have to sell out the stadium — 50,957 tickets — at least 72 hours before kickoff for the game to be televised, according to National Football League rules. So far they've sold 40,103 tickets for the Titans game.

Dvorak's giveaway is the latest in a series of sales tactics the Jaguars have tried to make up for the time they lost during the NFL blackout. A team scrimmage was open to the public for free in July, and two weeks ago, they launched half-season ticket packages that can be paid for in $50 installments. The sales and marketing staff will even take fans out to the stadium to allow them to pick their seat if they're buying season tickets.